Jimi Hendrix's Andre 3000 Biopic Cameras Still Rolling Despite Estate's Complaints

Plans to bring late rocker Jimi Hendrix's life story to the big screen are still on deck despite the musician's estate issuing a statement this week suggesting otherwise.

According to reports, movie plans are still on deck involving OutKast's Andre 3000.

It's official: John Ridley will direct a bio-film about the late Jimi Hendrix, who'll be played on screen by the musician Andre Benjamin, better known as OutKast's Andre 3000. Ridley also has written the original screenplay for the project, titled "All Is By My Side." Haley Atwell and Imogen Poots will appear in co-starring roles. Darko Entertainment, Subotica Entertaiment and Matador Pictures will produce the film, which Darko is financing. Producing are Darko's Sean McKittrick and Jeff Culotta, Danny Bramson, Subotica's Tristan Orphen Lynch and Matador's Nigel Thomas. Ridley and Tedd Hamm will serve as exec producers on the project, scheduled to begin production on location in Ireland later this month. In announcing "Side," the producers said it will be based on actual interviews with Hendrix as well as archival materials. (Billboard)

Yesterday (May 10), the Hendrix estate issued a statement stressing an unwillingness, for now, to allow any biopic on the rocker include his original music.

"Various media outlets have recently published accounts that indicate a feature length Jimi Hendrix biographical film is nearing production," reads the statement. "Experience Hendrix, LLC, the family-owned company entrusted with safeguarding the legacy of Jimi Hendrix and administrator of the Jimi Hendrix music and publishing catalog has made it known many times in the past that no such film, were it to include original music or copyrights created by Jimi Hendrix, can be undertaken without its full participation." (Statement)

After months of speculation, the film was finally green lighted last week.

IFTN understands that 'All Is By My Side' will document Hendrix's period in England over 1966 and 1967 as he formulated his debut album and some of the greatest guitar music ever created. The feature film will be written and directed by John Ridley, who is best known as the writer of 'Three Kings' and 'U-Turn'. The project is currently in pre-production in Wicklow, with principal photography set to begin in three weeks time in Dublin and Wicklow. The shoot will last six weeks in total. (IFTN)

Last summer, reports of a Hendrix biopic being in the works were nixed.

The Experience Hendrix estate, in charge of all Hendrix material and images, have squashed the hopes of a biopic going forward, along with the our fantasy of this perfect casting. Experience Hendrix and their CEO, Hendrix's sister Janie, have "made it known many times in the past that no such film, were it to include original music or copyrights created by Jimi Hendrix, can be undertaken without its full participation." A musician's biopic without music? That is decidedly unfoxy, lady! (The Boom Box)